Manifolding device



May 23, 1933. E. K. BOTTLE MANIFOLDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 25' 1930 ATTORNEY May 23, 1933. E. K. BOTTLE MANIFOLDING DEVICE Original Filed 25, 1930 2 Sheets Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. z'a/war'affii'by B 05/72 A TTORNEYS.

BY 7 1 M Patented May 23, 1933 UNITNED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD KIRBY BOTTLE, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO AMERTOAN BOOK COMPANY, LIMITED, OF TORONTO, CANADA, A CORPORATION OF ONTARIO,

CANADA.

' MANIFOLDING nnvrcn V Application filed February 25, 1930, Serial No. 431,297. Renewed October 11, 1932.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for manifold inscription, such for example, as typewriting machines, autographic registers and like apparatus, and

more particularly it relates to improvements in feeding means for record strips for receivin g the manifold'inscriptions.

It is a general object of the invention to improved inexpensive construction enabling it to be readily inscribed and filed away with a minimum of time and effort.

Still another object is to provide an improved assembly of manifolding traveler record strips whereby the assembled strips may be inscribed and differentially fed for providing a su'mmarymecord, or for other purposes. i

Other objects of the invention will be in part pointed out in the. following detailed description of certain illustrative but pre-' ferred embodiments of the invention, and will be in part obvious in connection therewith. 1 y

The invention accordingly comprises a product possessing the features, properties, and the relation of components which will be exemplified in the product hereinafter de scribed and the-scope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a. more complete understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, refer encc is had to the following detailed description, and to the accompanying drawings in" which: a

Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal vertical section of an autographic register embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken substantially on'the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 3 is a detail partially diagrammatic perspective view showing the record strip assembly in cooperation with the feeding mechamsm.

Fig. 4 is a plan View of one of the Work webs or record strips.

Fig. 5 is a like plan of a preferred embodiment of a summary record strip.

Fig. 6 is a plan of the underface of a fragment of the transfer sheets.

Fig. 7 is a partially diagrammatic perspec wherein a manifolding machine of the autographic register type is shown. This register includes a casing 10 having a. bottom and side Walls with compartments '11 and 12 and a top 13. A platen or writing table 14 is also provided for supporting-the work webs or record strips while inscriptions are being written thereon.. l

The compartment 12 provides a storage space for a supply of. record strips R, the strips preferably being folded in the form of a zigzag supply pad R which may be convenlently supported at the lower part of a shelf of a magazine 15. This magazine may be conveniently supported in position in the compartment l2-and may be inserted or removed through a rear opening closed by a pivoted door 16. The compartment 11 provides a storage space for receiving one or more of the record strips, in th1s case the summary record strip S after it has been inscribed, as fully described below.

According to the present embodiment, the supply pad support or magazine 15 is of box like formation having a bottom shelf 17 for the supply pad R and an upper supporting shelf 18 for the summary supply pad S, the two supply pads being thus supported one over another. There may be. as many record strips in each supply pad as desired, two record strips R and one summary strip S being shown in the illustrative en'ibodin'ient. The supply pad magazine may be ,readily inserted or removed, or supply pads may be inserted thereinto through the open rear end thereof merely by opening the rear door 16 by swinging it outwardly on its pivot. The summary supply pad S is also preferably in the form of a zigzag folded strip as shown.

Guiding members or bars 19 for the summary and. record strips may be provided at the rear end of the register over which the strips pass and are supported and guided on their way from the respective supply pads to the platen 14. These guide bars may be of any preferred construction preferably having bristle strip engaging tensioning members 20. As indicated, a cover 21, preferably hinged as at 22 at one longitudinal edge to the casing, overlies the top of the rear portion of the register, having a cutout or opening 23 positioned over the platen 14- through which the inscription is made upon the record strips.

The strip gripping mechanism of the strip feeding device may be of the general type disclosed in the Johnston patent for Autographi register, #1,G58,127, issued Feb. 7, 1928. As shown, this feeding mechanism includes a main feed drive shaft 24: appropriately mounted for rotation in the casing and hav-' ing an external handle for manual operation similar to the Johnston patent mentioned. Two feed discs 25 are rigidly mounted upon this shaft for rotation therewith having their feeding peripheries positioned in the path of strip feed where they engage and grip the strips against a rotary feed roll 26. This feed roll may be mounted for yielding retraction in a supporting housing 27 as in the patent mentioned. It will, therefore, be obvious to those skilled in. the art that rotation of the feed discs in one direction will draw or feed the record strips forwardly by virtue of this feeding grip. Thesupporting housing is preferably mounted so as to be movable away from the feed discs as for example by means of swinging supporting arms 28 attached at their free ends to the housing and pivoted at their other ends to the casing.

There is preferably av strip deflecting plate 29, the forward edge of which is positioned near to the points of emergence of the'record strips from the feeding grips between the feed discs and the feed roll. When the record and summary strips are threaded or loaded into position in the machine, the forward end of the lower or summary strip may be introduced beneath this deflector plate so that, during strip feed this summary strip will be projected by the feeding mechanism wi er?" into the storage compartment 11. It will be understood that more than one strip may, if desired, be introduced into the storage or filing space 11. The remainder of the record strips will similarly be introduced above the deflector plate 29 thus emerging above the.

cover platel3 (as feed progresses) whereupon they may be severed across an appropriate knife edge or by any other method. The cover 13 may be mounted for opening move ment to provide access to the filing compartment 11 and may be locked in closed position to prevent unauthorized access.

For supporting a supply 0 of transfer or carbon sheets, a housing 30 may be provided at one side of the register casing, having a spindle 31 upon which the supply roll C is supported. The active or work carbon sheets 0 and D may then extend from the supply roll transversely across the platen 14 appropriately interleaved in manifolding relation with the record strips, and having their free ends clamped at the opposite side of the easing in any preferred manner to hold them in operative position. Each of the record strips It may be of the general form shown in Fig. 4, being of the continuous traveler type and having spaced therealong blank forms 32 appropriately formed for the particular business or use for which they are employed. These blank forms divide the continuous record strip into aseries of form sheets or form leaves 33 each of which may have a designating character such as the serial numerals 84. The form sheets may be further divided or separated from each other by the transverse lines 35. These transverse lines are formed by perforating or scoring the paper to weaken it against folding and to provide weakened severance lines facilitating severance of the form sheets from each other. These weakened lines in the embodiment shown are coincident with the folds of the zigzag supply pad'R into which the record strips are folded. Also each record strip R is provided with two series of controlling apertures 36 for controlling the feeding and aligning of the record strips. These controlling apertures as shown are arranged in two longitudinal series near opposite edges of the record strips and are spaced apart longitudinally in each series substantially the lengths of the form sheets so that only one aperture of each series will be in each .form sheet.

Each of the form sheets 33 is preferably also provided with an additional blank form 37 which may, if desired, form an integral part of the forms 32. As shown, the forms 37 are designed for the reception of summary data such as totals of sales, amounts of commodities sold, or the like.

The summary record strip S as shown in Fig. 5 may also be provided at intervals along its length with transverse weakened lines 38 similar to the weakened lines'35. These lines '38 are preferably longitudinally spaced apart equal distances along the length of the strip, but the spacing thereof need not be the same as the. spacing of the lines 35. Also, these weakened lines 38 may as shown be coincident with the folds lines of the zigzag folded summary supply pad S. This arrangement divides the summary strip S into a longitudinal series of pad leavesor sheets 39 similar in some respects to the form sheets 33 and forming the relatively superposed p2&d leaves of the supply pad S.

Each pad leaf 39 of the summary strip has a plurality of inscription receiving areas, such as the blank forms 40, tl1ere being five such forms serially arranged in each pad leaf'in the embodiment shown. These blank forms 40 divide each pad leaf into a longi= tudinal series of form leaves or form sheets 41 of equal length which may, if desired, be further separated by means of transverse spaced lines 42. These form leaves 41 with the blank forms 40 thereon are intended for the transfer reception of summary inscriptions which are written on the summary blank forms 37 of the record strips R, and are much shorter than the form sheets 33 of the said record strips, there being in the embodiment shown five times as many form shees 41. per unit length of strip as there are form sheets 33. The summary forms 40 corre spond in size and ruling to the forms 37. Each summary form sheet 41 may also bear a designating serial number 34 corresponding respectively to the numerals 34 whereby summary records of the summary strip may be readily identified with the transactions recorded on the form sheets 33.

Feed controlling apertures 43 are also formed in the summary strip S being preferably arranged in two longitudinal series as shown, spaced apart laterally the same distance as the series of apertures 36. the series of apertures in the different strips being thus arranged in superposed alignment with each other when the strips R and S are superposed in manifolding relation as shown in Fig. 3. The longitudinal spacing of the control apertures 42 1n each series is much less than the longitudinal spacing of apertures 36, there being in the embodiment shown one control aperture 43 of each series in each summary form sheet 41.

The carbon strip C for each record strip R except the top or original may be of ordinary form, but the summary carbon strip D has only a. narrow longitudinal strip of transfer material l) which is positioned for selective transfer inscription upon the sum-' mary blank forms 37 of the record strips and forms 40 of thesummary Si'lll). The web of the summary strip, however, maybe of normal width in order to'strengthen the: part thereof bearing the transfer material.

The operation of the improved summary manifolding device will now be understood thus feeding all the record strips forwardly.

The. record strips may be started from their writing position by means of some preferred starting device such for example as disclosed in the Johnston patent. mentioned.

When the next succeeding control apertures 36 of the record strips R come into alignmentiwith the feed grips of the discs-25, the

record strips'R willbe checked and aligned because the grip is then released in a manner known in the art and described in the J ohnston patent, it being understood that the thickness of the feed discs 25 is less than the diameter of the apertures 36. During this advancement of the strips R the distance between two successive apertures 36, that is, the length of one of the form sheets 33, the summary stripwill have advanced only the length of one of its form sheets 41. This is for the reason that the feed ofthe summary strip S is checked as soon as the next successive control aperture 43 comes into alignment with the feeding grip of the respective feed disc. For the remainder of the feeding cycle, the strips R are fed forwardly independently. of the summary strip, the feeding grip upon the strips B being efi'ected through the controlling apertures 43 of the summary strip. Tt will thus be seen that a differential feeding action is effected between the strips R and the summary strips S, all of the strips however moving together in the same direction, and the feeding impulse being efi'ecteol by virtue of the grips of the feed discs. Tn this manner the differential feed between too the strips R and the summary strip S will 1 be in proportion to the respective longitudinal spacing of the control apertures 36 and cessivesummary blank forms 40 of the summary strip so that the summary data entered in the forms 37 will be transferred to the summaryblank forms 40 of the summary strip by virtue of the carbon strip D.

As mentioned above, the summary strip will be fed quite slowly due to the short length of the form sheets 39. This slow feeding movement gives the strip time to fold naturally on the fold lines 38 due to the folding tendency engendered by the prior folding of the strip in the zigzag supply pack S. The summary strip will, therefore, ordinarily be correctly folded in the filing compartment 11 as it is thrust therein by action of the feed discs. i iccording to the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 7, the feeding mechanism is of the type already disclosed including the feed discs 25 and the feed roll 26 similar to the corresponding parts shown in Figs. 1 and 3. Other features of the autographic register'may be similar to those described above in connection with Fi 1.

Tn the present embodiment, however, a traveler transfer strip C2, interposed in manifolding relation between the original record strip R2 and the duplicate record strip R3 when said strips are brought into inscription receiving position over the writing platen.

Also. an additional traveler transfer or carbon strip C3 is similarly interposed in manifolding relation between the duplicate record strip R3 and the summary record strip S2. all of these strips are thus positioned in relatively superposed manifolding relation as they are introduced into the feeding grips between the feed discs 25 and the feed roll 26 The original and duplicate record strips may he of the form already described and as shown in Fig. 4, and the arrangement of blank forms 32 and summarv forms 37 may be substantially as in the prior embodiment. Also. the arrangement of feed controlling apertures 36 is substantially the same. The summary record strip S2 is also preferably the same as disclosed above in connection with Fig. 5 having feed controlling apertures 43" together with summary blank forms and other features disclosed. in detail in connection with 5.

As clearly shown in Fig. 7, the summary transfer strip C3, when in writing position, is positioned immediately above the summary record strip S2 with its transfer face in contact with the record face of the summary strip. This summary transfer strip is of special formation as illustrated in Fig. 8.

.lit is provided with two series of feed controlling apertures 44 spaced apart longitudinally and otherwise arranged on the strip similarly to the feed. controlling apertures 36 and 36 above described. Transversely extending weakened lines 45 are also spaced therealong at intervals corresponding to the spacing of the fold lines 35 and 35 of the record strips. These weakened lines may be formed by perforating the strip 1n any well known manner to enable it to 35 be readily severed when detaching the foremma wardly fed portions and they are preferably positioned coincident with fold lines upon which the transfer strip is folded into the zigzag supply pad. This arrangement divides the summary transfer strip into a longitudinal series of pad leaves of the same length as the form leaves of the record strips R2 and R3 but longer than the form leaves of the summary record strip S2.

The active or transfer face of the summary transfer strip is provided with areas 46 of transfer material arranged for selective transfer inscription to PICClOtBl'IIllDGCl surfaces of the summary strip containing the summary blank forms. As shown, these transfer areas are preferably discontinuous and spaced apart longitudinally of the strip with interposed strip areas free of the transfer material and thus incapable of transferring inscriptions. These intermittent transfer areas may be positioned on the strip as-desired to effect the selective transfer inscription, bein shown near the forward end of each leaf in order to transfer the inscriptions to the summary forms 37 of the record strips. One such intermittent area of trans for material in the illustrative embodiment is provided in each length or pad leaf of the summary transfer strip. This transfer strip is of the continuous traveler type preferably extending continuously for the full length of the record strips.

As best shown in Fig. 9, each of the other carbon or transfer strips C2 is also of the continuous traveler type preferably extending the full length of the record strips and interleaved therewith and folded in zigzag formation into the supply pad with the other strips. This strip preferably has its entire transfer surface coated with carbon or similar transfer material and it is also preferably provided with transverse weakened lines 47 preferably similar to the lines 45 of the summary transfer strip and similarly positioned so as to divide the transfer strip C2 into a series of detachable leaves.

Each of the strips R2 and R3, C2 and C3 is preferably provided with notches or sunilar means whereby the carbon leaves may be readily separated from the record leaves after they have been severed from the strips following inscription. For this purpose the record strips may be provided with notches 48 in the edges thereof adjacent to the forward ends of the form leaves. Similarly the transfer strip C2 may be provided with similar notches 49 adjacent to the rear ends of the leaves and the summary strip C3 may be provided with similar notches 50 similarly positioned. Thus, when a group of leaves have been severed together along the transverse weakened lines thereof, the notches 48 of the record strips will be positioned at one corner of the leaves while the notches 49 and 50 of the transfer strips will be positioned at the diagonally opposite corner. The transfer leaves therefore may be readily separated fronrthe inscribed record leaves by gripping the leaves at these diagonally opposite corners and pulling them apart.-

As mentioned above, the record strips R2 and R3 and the transfer strips C2 and C3 are interleaved together in mutually overlapping relation and folded together in zigzag forma- 10. tion into a supply pad this supply pad .is shown partially diagrammatically at B4 in Fig. 7. All of these strips are thus positio ed together in longitudinal relation, that is, with direction oflength or longitudinal axes extending in the same-direction whereposition by any convenient means such for I example as described above in connection with Fig. 1. ,When' folded together in the supply pad, all the transverse weakened lines of all the strips are preferably coincident with the fold lines of the pad. The summary record strip S2 is preferably folded in zigzag formation into a zigzag supply pad S3 which is similar to the summary pad S1 above described and may be positioned and 33 mounted in the machine as described in connection with Fig. 1. The summary strip may then be fedforwardly fromthe supply pad into overlapping manifolding relation in writing position with the other strips as fully 40 described above. The number of summary form leaves in a summary supply pad S3 may be the same as the number of form leaves of the main record strips in the supply ad R so'that enough summary leaves may e provided in one supply pad for all of the record leaves of the main supply pad R4.

From the foregoing detailed description, the operation of the manifolding device will be understood. The several record strips and transfer strips being relatively arranged and placed in operative position, as described and as shown in Fig. 7, the feeding mechanism is operated through one cycle as described in connection with Fig. 1 and also in the Johnston patent referred to. This operation will feed all of the strips together forwardly in the same direction, bringing the blank forms or writing areas thereof into position upon the platen to receive the entries. The record strips R2 and R3 and the transfer strips C2 and Cid will each be fed forwardly the length of one of the form sheets of said record strips and feed thereof 'will be arrested when feed controlling apertures come into alignment C3 with the feed grips of the feeding mechanism. During the same time the summary record strip S2 will be.fed forwardly, butv a much shorter distance by virtue of the shorter spacing of its feeding control apertures 43. All the strips will thus be correctly longitudinally aligned and will be checked in the correct writing position. One of the carbonized areas 46 of the summary transfer strip will-thus be selectively positioned for transferring to one of the summary leaves of the summary strip any sun1- mary'data entered on the blank form 37 of the record strip R2. -After entering the inscriptions, the inscribed leaves may then be fed forwardly and severed while the summary strip may be filed away in the storage compartment, as described in connection with Fig. 1. It will be observed that a full length leafof the summary transfer strip C3 will be-fed forwardly at each feeding cycle, thus bringing a fresh transfer area 46 into position. Also, by virtue of the spaced or discontinuous carbonized areas and the spaces therebetween free of carbon material, no inscription will be made upon the summary record strip S2 except upon the selected form or form leaf thereof. The starting of the strips at each feeding cycle will be effected as already described above in connection with Fig. 1. v 7 Since both of the carbon strips C2 and G3 are removed intact with removal of the record leaves, any further desired inscription may be made before separating the carbon leaves from the record leaves. The carbon strips are preferably pf thin tissue material and due to the fact that a fresh carbon area is used for each writing, the transfer inscriptions will always be made in the best possible manner and perfect copies will result. lit is obvious that the positioning of the discontinuous carbon areas 16 may be varied to selectively transfer the summary records as desired and that said areas may, if found desirable, terminate short of the edges of the strip.

Since certain changes may be made in the above construction and different embodi ments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is ingitudinally spaced areas of transfer material positioned for selective transfer inscription upon one of said record strips.

2. A inanifolding device including an assembly of superposed traveler record strips, one of which has a longitudinal series of longitudinally spaced control apertures and another of which has a longitudinal series of longitudinally spaced apertures spaced differently from said first mentioned apertures and arranged in superposed regi try with said first mentioned series, and a traveler transfer strip interposed between said record strips with differently spaced apertures and hav ing longitudinally spaced areas of transfer material positioned for selective transfer inscription upon said record strip with the shorter aperture spacing.

3. A manifolding device including an assembly of superposed traveler record strips, one of which has spaced Control apertures and a second of which has spaced control. apertures longitudinally spaced less than said first mentioned apertures, said second strip having a longitudinal series of inscriptirui areas or form leaves of longitudinal di1nen-. sion substantially thesame as the aperture spacing thereof and a traveler transfer strip interposedhetween said record strips with the differently spaced apertures and having longitudinally spaced areas of transfer material positioned for selective transfer inscription upon said form leaves, said transfer strip having a longitudinal series of feed controlling apertures respectively positioned in feed registering relation with the spared transfer areas.

4. In a manifolding device, in combination. a plurality of traveler record strips arranged in relatively superposed n'ianifolding relation, a plurality of traveler transfer strips in superposed manifolding relation with said record strips and in longitudinal alignment therewith, one of said transfer strips having longitudinally spaced areas of trai'isfer material for selective transfer inscription, said transfer strips and certain of said record strips having aligned longitudinal series of till feed controlling apertures therein substantially equally longitudinally spaced. and another of said record strips having a longitudinal series of feed controlling apertures differentially longitudinally spaced from said first mentioned apertures and aligned with said first mentioned series.

lln testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EDWARD Kl'l'tBY BOTTLE. 

